Wednesday, April 21, 2010

We now have clear evidence that life started by itself. When the right chemicals are present life is inevitable just like any other chemical reaction. All life on this planet is based on the same precursor molecules that can spontaneously arise.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Ocean depths that lack oxygen have been found to be full of other kinds of life forms. Some may contain the oldest DNA an the planet. It should also change our view of what we put into the deep ocean.

"Samples taken from the deep seabed have revealed an astonishing variety of life. 'Far from being a lifeless desert, the deep sea rivals such highly diverse ecosystems as tropical rainforests and coral reefs,' said Pedro Marinez Arbizu, one of the scientists working on the Census.'Given these new insights, we cannot possibly use the deep-sea floor as a waste dump or subject it to unlimited resource extraction without massively impacting the marine communities living there,' Dr Arbizu added."

Friday, April 16, 2010

Nebraska's new law moves back the threshold for abortions to 20 weeks. This is aimed squarely at one of the few doctors who performs late-term abortions. It expected that the cases generated by this law will thread their way up the appellate chain until in lands in the Supreme Court. The No-choice people are hoping that Roe v. Wade will be overturned and they can regain control over women and their reproductive decisions.

Wednesday, April 07, 2010

This is rather cool. Using a charged carbon nanotube an atomic 'black hole' can be simulated. An atom spirals toward the tube until an electron tunnels into the tube. At that point the resultant ion is repelled away. In a real black hole a mass is accelerated as it orbits closer and closer to the event horizon. Eventually tidal forces causes it to disintegrate and a portion crosses the horizon. The remaining portion has enough velocity to escape. As black holes accumulate matter they also radiate much of it away.

Tuesday, April 06, 2010

Now that we have the drilling technology to go to 5 kilometer depths, disposing of radioactive wastes may be as simple as drilling deep holes into the bedrock. A hole 5 kilometers deep could store 2 kilometers worth of waste and seal it with a 3 kilometer plug. At that depth things don't move for millions of years. That's plenty of time for the waste to decay back to background radiation levels.

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The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled.--Plutarch

I never meant to say that the Conservatives are generally stupid. I meant to say that stupid people are generally Conservative. I believe that is so obviously and universally admitted a principle that I hardly think any gentleman will deny it.-- John Stuart Mill

We should do everything we can to make sure this country lives up to our children's expectations.--Barack Obama

cogito ergo sum. -- Descartes

Concerning prayer-I would imagine somebody in back was taking care of that for me while I was flying the airplane.--Captain Chesley Sullenberger

Countless lives were saved when I decided not to become a nurse. --Mildred Walton

The secret to a long marriage is to take care of your health.--Mildred Walton